Code of Conduct

Urban Librarians Unite’s Code of Conduct

Our activities and events should foster meaningful collaboration between participants, community members, and government partners. We expect internal governance, participants, advocacy, activities, and events to be:

Provide a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment where all are free to fully express their ideas and identities free from discrimination or harassment. All spaces, online or physical, shall be governed by Urban Librarians Unite’s anti-harassment policy.

Default to open and work to be objective.

Collaborate for the purpose of generating ideas that empower, innovate, and develop local capacity.

Presume the value of others and cherish everyone’s ideas, skills, and contributions.

Encourage participants to listen as much as they speak, ask respectful questions, and demystify context.

Foster energy that builds “yes, and” ideas and permit the ability to stretch.

Work to prioritize access for and input from those who are traditionally excluded from the professional process.

Actively involve stakeholders, community groups, and those with subject matter expertise in all decision-making processes.

Ensure that relationships and conversations between, and among, stakeholders e.g. elected officials, their staff, and government representatives, community based organizations and their partners, and members of the Urban Librarians Unite community — remain respectful, participatory, and productive.

Urban Librarians Unite reserves the right to ask anyone in violation of these policies not to participate in Urban Librarians Unite’s events or network of activities. If you have any other concerns or would like to address an issue, please contact Christian Zabriskie, Urban Librarians Unite’s Executive Director, at christian.g.zabriskie [at] gmail.com and +1.941.4457114. or email urbanlibrariansunite [at] gmail.com.

Urban Librarians Unite’s Code of Conduct is an adaptation of Code for America’s Community Code of Conduct policy. Urban Librarians Unite agrees to review this policy annually at the fall meeting of the Board of Directors.

Urban Librarians Unite’s Anti-Harassment Policy

This anti-harassment policy is based on Code for America’s Anti-Harassment policy, the BetaNYC Anti Harassment Policy, and the example policy from the Geek Feminism wiki, created by the Ada Initiative and other volunteers.

All Urban Librarians Unite events, workplaces, staff, presenters, and participants are held to the following anti-harassment policy.

We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Sexual language and imagery which is unreasonable, out of context and for which participants are not appropriately warned is not appropriate for any Urban Librarians Unite event or network activity, including talks. Anyone in violation of these policies may expelled from Urban Librarians Unite events or network activities; this will be at the discretion of Urban Librarians Unite leadership and/or event organizers.

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, Urban Librarians Unite leadership and/or event organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender and expulsion from Urban Librarians Unite events and network activities.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the event staff immediately. Additionally, you can contact Christian Zabriskie, Urban Librarians Unite’s Executive Director, at christiangzabriskie@gmail.com and +1.941.4457114. or email urbanlibrariansunite [at] gmail.com.

Urban Librarians Unite leadership and/or event staff will be happy to help participants contact hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event.

If you cannot reach the event organizer and/or it is an emergency, please call 911 and/or remove yourself from the situation.

We value your attendance and hope that by communicating these expectations out widely we can all enjoy an environment that is welcoming to all. Urban Librarians Unite agrees to review this policy annually at the fall meeting of the Board of Directors.